Electrode



H. E. KIMBLE ELECTRODE Filed April 19, 1953 m n T N m w a In /A I M FE Y Erv H RE UU 0Q 5:. mm

Patented Dec. 11, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRODE a corporation of New Application April 19,

3 Claims.

The present invention has to do with an electrode and relates particularly to a device for use in coagulation in small orifices of the human body. The device is highly useful in the cervix.

5 The utility of the electrode is most noticeable when it is employed for coagulation in openings of small diameter and in fissured openings.

The primary object of the present invent-ion is the provision of an electrode in which the conductors are spaced closely together.

A second object of the present invention is the provision of an electrode of novel structure. Another object of the invention is the provision of an electrode comprising twisted conductors suitably insulated one from the other.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an electrode which comprises closely positioned conductors, the distance between the opposed conductors being less than in the usual type of device of this character and the separation being helical rather than linear.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an electrode which may be moved rotatively, longitudinally or laterally during treatments therewith, as preferred.

These objects, and such other objects as may hereinafter appear, are obtained from the novel construction, improved combination, and superior arrangement of the elements shown in the electrode illustrated in the accompanying drawing and embodying one form of the invention, and in which drawing:-

Figure l is an elevation of an electrode embracing the subject matter of the invention; and

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the electrode taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Like reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the description which follows and in the drawing.

Heretofore it has been proposed to employ for diathermy an electrode in which the current is applied by two independent and linearly spacedapart conducting points. It is true that in some such devices the points, when disposed at the ends of an electrode may be bent to regulate the distance therebetween, that is, to bring them into approximation or to space them apart.

But no matter how closed the conducting points are when brought together, it is necessary in such an electrode to impart a lateral movement thereto to insure against the electrode points sticking as they will do if not continuously moved across the tissue to which applied.

Thus electrodes with two conducting points York 1933, Serial No. 666,839

with linear spacing, while highly effective for certain conditions, possess other inherent limitations. Such limitations the present device overcomes.

In the drawing, an elongated electrode of rodlike configuration is shown. This comprises a core 10 which later will be described in greater detail. About such core 10 is an insulator 11. In a rigid type of electrode, the insulator 11 may be of hard rubber or any other suitable dielectric. The ends of the body 11 may be provided with collars 12 and 13 as shown. Such collars 12 and 13 generally are of hard rubber or of an equivalent dielectric. When and if a flexible electrode body is desired, the body may be of a pure gum rubber either with or without end collars of hard rubber or other dielectric material.

At one end of the electrode are paired spacedapart contacts 14 and 15 which extend in parallelism for insertion into a socket 16 from which suitable cords 17 and 18 providing conduits to a source of electromotive force which is to be impressed upon the tip of the electrode.

Within the body 11 and preferably adjacent to the usual tips of the device, the two contacts 14 and 15 may become the core 10 and are maintained against contact with each other by the material of the body 11 of the handle. These then are twisted one about the other with an insulatory meaterial 19 intermediate the contiguous portions of the conductors so that no short circuit may occur between such conductors.

Thus the entire exposed usable tip portions of the conductors comprise two twisted wires, 20 and 21, charged with high frequency energy. The wires 20 and 21 are separated one from the other by the laminations of insulatory material 19 which is an effective dielectric for use with high frequency. The two conductors 20 and 21 thus are brought into close proximity with little space between them at any place.

Due to the propensity of conductors carrying high frequency to fry the tissue if allowed to remain too long in one position and thus stick to the tissue, it is necessary to continuously move the conductors over the part under treatment. Hence, when a two point electrode with linearly spaced conductors is employed, it is advisable to move the two tips laterally across the treated tissue so that each of the conductors contact the area for limited and substantially equal periods of time.

This is possible with linearly separated conductors so long as the orifice of the body is suinciently large to permit of lateral movement of the electrode. But in the cervix and. perhaps in trode.

other relatively small orifices, or in fissured orifices, the electrode with linearly spaced conductors cannot possibly be moved laterally without distorting the part and hence such electrode is inefficient. Under some circumstances, such an electrode is almost useless'because of the inability to contact the affected area with both conductors at the sametime.

It is for'better meeting-such conditions as those which have just been described that the present invention was conceived.

As the only movements possible when an elece trade is placed in small orifices or the fissured sides of an orifice are oneyofz penetration anchremoval, which movementsarein the direction: of the axis of the electrode, or of rotation after' insertion, the present type of. twisted electrode.- has been developed. At all times, the two conductors are in close proximity. This approximation is greater than inany other type of electrode. The twistingoftwo conductors of'the' electrode-permits-of a constant change in-conductors incontact withanyportion ofthe tissue by'a slight longitudinal movement of the elec- Likewise a rotary movement of the'electrode brings the two conductors oneafteranother over an area in close-succession.

No lateral movement is necessary for such change of the conductorsof the electrode in contact with the part subject to coagulation.-

Inthe event that it is desired to move the electrode laterally, however,- exactly the same results obtain. Movement of the electrode in a line tangential to'thesurface of the electrodebrings tips of the electrodes-maybeused for linear-work;

The electrode illustrated may be used with but a small portion of its length in any orifice into which it is inserted. On the other hand, substantially its entire length may be employed for effective large surface coagulation.

The electrode as described and illustrated may be made into many forms and may be materially modifiedwithout-departingafromthe spirit of the invention; Inthe simpleiorm of the invention which is shown, the electrode is equally effective whether longitudinally, rotatively or laterally moved.

An effective form of electrode is provided by employing: two .halfi round members as conductors; Thesemayibesemi-circular in cross section. Intermediate' the fiat-faces of the two members insulation isdisposed. The unit formed of the two half round members and the intermediate insulationisthen spirally twisted.

What is claimed as new and is desired to be securedbylletters Patent of the-United Statesis:

1; An: electrode comprising" two helical conducting members with insulation therebetween,

said electrode'beingsubstantially'circular in cross section; the "periphery of the insulation intermediate the conducting members in such cross section having-a radius slightlylessthan the radius of the periphery of the-conducting memhers-therein:

2. An electrodecomprisinga-harxdie; and conduct0rsprojecting" therefrom; said conductors comprising one member twistedfabout another; with insulatory material therebetween; the two conductors" providing a rod like part; generallycircular in cross section with exposed substantiallycylindrical conducting areas ihaving a narrow" helix of insulatory material therebetween:

3." The electrode describedin' claim- 2 inwhich said" conductors are half round members; and

the insulatory'material is between the flat faces 

